The Guiana dolphin is only found in coastal areas of the western tropical Americas. Its habitat overlaps with many densely populated areas and a range of potentially damaging human activities. Key concerns include heavy vessel traffic, high ocean noise and pollution from agriculture and industry. Artisanal gillnet fishing is another threat, occurring widely and leading to accidental bycatch. Guiana dolphins are also intentionally caught as bait or for human consumption.
Further research is required to build a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of the Guiana dolphin's conservation status. This work has been prioritised by the IWC Scientific Committee and is currently underway, but regional assessments have already established that this species is endangered in French Guiana and vulnerable in Brazil and Colombia.
A CMP was endorsed in 2024 and aims to enhance global cooperation to assess and monitor population trends and health, develop sustainable solutions, reduce habitat degradation and align international initiatives with national action plans. The long-term objective is to reverse population declines, promote habitat quality and improve the health condition of Guiana dolphins throughout their range.
Priority Actions
- Establish a network to coordinate research and management efforts among stakeholders throughout the distribution of the species.
- Establish a framework to enhance existing monitoring programmes, improving scientific knowledge, focusing on population structure and trends, ecological parameters and risk assessments, and health conditions.
- Improve monitoring and mitigation efforts, targeting both direct and indirect impacts of human activities.
- Amplify engagement with diverse stakeholders (governments, scientists, private sector, artisanal fisheries and public) to increase awareness and foster capacity-building.
Read the 2024 Conservation Management Plan for Guiana dolphins
